Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-11-16
SPARKS RESIGNS.
The Commissioner of the General
Land Office in a Letter TO the
President Tenders Resignation.
He Accuses Mr. Lamar of Creating ths
Impression thas the Issue Between
Them Was One of Authority.
Hearing Before the Secretary oH
Purely Legal Question.
LAMAR SPARKS CONTROVERSY

LAMAR SPARKS CONTROVERSY.
WASHINGTON, NV. 15.-Land Com
missioner Sparks this evening personally
delivered to the President q letter de-
tending his course In the Chicago. ST.
Paul, Minneapolis and Omaha Railway
land grant case and formally resigaing
his Office. The Commissioner opens his
letter by saying: "The honorable Sec
rotary OF the Interior advises me By letter
dated the 18th Inst, in effect that he
showed on that date present to you the
alternative Of selecting g new secretary
OF the interior or new land commits
sioDer, in view Of which have felt called
upon TO address to you this letter"
He then refers to the railway CAGES
which had been decided by the Secre-
taTy ard explains why and how he asked
the Secretary to review them, believing Is
Re did that Mr.. LamAr had been com
mitted to errors Of law which if brought
70 his personal attention
MIGHT BE CORRECTED.
The Commissioner then proceeds az FOL
lows: "It is but jast to ssy that the pub
iished communication addressed to nc,
| and laid before you Ia no answer 70 my
letter applying for review. The ISSUE
raised by me was strictly one OF lsw
The presentation CT the issue was strictly
! in the line of legal argument. Ia the let
er addressed to me that issue is not
met and the effect has beer
create the ERRONEOUS i'm.
preston that the issue was one o.
authority alone, and that 1 had refused
execute the Secretery's official order
| This diversion Of the issue from one o.
legal construction to one Of authority
| and INSTRUMENTATION Is Substitution tol
force Of argument the diversion OF thu
| public mind from the merits OF the case
and if not resisted by me in this presen
lation to you would be the suppression
ay that power OF proper ard consid
arate eff ,rt on my psrt ss Commissioner
OF the General Land Office TO secure in tn
| public interest
| .sSsseS@ AN IMPARTIAL HEARING
EssEfsfe the Secretary of the II erIcr on [
ipurelY legal question affecting the ad-
mnistFa;ion Of the Office with which au
charged The Office Ct Commissioner O
the General Lsnd Offlce has been one O
| intense. labor. imposing 3 eon6tGnE-6easC
| Of high responsibility. Having sought i
1 al fSQi ISsL-NSf 1 4-~1fS SSAtIH0oA ~ 1S4N
it only ont Of sense Of duy with tbs
VieW Of affecting some good TO the pub
lie. I have endeayored to discharge my
full duty il it in the face OF m,ny die
coursgements and much cslamny anC
abuse from those whose interests were K
defeat the policies pursued. 1 have be.
lieved my line Of action to be correct
and thought had reason for the belle
that il met with your approval. If these
| decisions foreshadOTa change in
THE OFFICIAL POLICY
on this subject, knowing we'll Whist thi
will mean in practical application,
,ke0uld not OF course, with my sense o
7 duty be the instrument to effect TIL
change. Having ever rs now regarded
the commission hold from you as SUB
jact to your recsll Eud desiring to reliey
you of anY possible embarrassment,
herewith tender you my resignation o
he Office Of c rmmissioner Of the Lam
Office snd ask IT'S early acceptance, an
IN seyering my connection with your ad
ministratiOn Deg to assure you Of %
earnest wish that the same wisdom, fair
ness and integrity which has thus far s.
eminently marked your administratio
may continue to enhance you IN the esti
nation Of your couutrymen. Very re
spectfully, WILLIAM A j SPARKS.